Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-05-13
DAILY HERALD.
THE COURT HOUSE.
Plans Adopted by theBoard
of Supervisors.
THE COST 70 BIZ saiO,sso.
Messsrs. Curlett, Risen 4 Cuth-
bertsOn the Successful
Architects.

Messsrs. Curlett, Eisen 4 Cuth-
bertson the Successful
Architects.
Early in the year the Supervisors de-
cided to advertise for plans for Court
house, to be built upon the block
bounded by New High, Temple and
Fort streets, adjoining the county jail.
The architects were instructed to hand
in their plans before March 10th, and in
order to insure impartiality they were
instructed especially to place no name
on the drawings. except some cypher or
motto. which also was to be placed on
a sealed envelope containing the name
Of the architect. There were nineteen
yplans handed in, and after their receipt
County Clerk Dunsmoor numbered
them and the corresponding envelopes
from | sp TO 10. The record of the pro-
ceedings yesterday plainly indicates the
course which was taken in relation to
deciding which were the best plans, and
upon voting yesterday to decide which
.of Nos. 6. IL and l6 should be adopted
the supervisors decided upon No. l6 by
a vote Of 4 TO l, which vote was after
wards made unanimous. As soon US 1t
had been decided to adopt No. l6,
County Clerk Dunsmoor was requested
to open envelope No. l6 and ascertain
the name OF the architect. 1t was
found that the successful firm was that
Of Curlett. Eisen L Cutbbertson, OF
No. POI Main street, in the Downey
Block. The proceedings of the Super
visors and reports on the matter were as
fellows:
REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE
To the Honorable Board OF Supervisors:
According to instructions. an expert ar
chitect frora San francesca has been EN-
ployed as professional adviser was en-
pIoyed and after eight days labor. he. with
our assistance, have selected from the nine
teen various plans, Nos. q. IL and ID, to take
under consideration. having the expert s
opinion of the character and costs of each.
comments and recommendations
]. W. VESABLE.
7. E. ROWAN.
The above report OF the subcommittee
was received and filed by the Board OF su-
pervfsors.
LETTER OF THE EXPERT.
ALI OF the nineteen sets OF plans submit
ted have been carefully examined, the
greater number of which were laid aside as
conspicaously inadequate to the require
ments OF the county.
Many of the competing architects pro
Tded for very small rooms and inadequate
accommodations for the various depart
ments, and while some of the rejected plans
are very creditable in many respects, they
are fallible in others.
MAIN REPORT IN FULL.
To the Honorable Board OF Supervisors OF
Los Angeles County:
GENTLEMEN - The undersigned having
been engaged by your Committee, as pro-
fessional adviser and expert to examine
and select from the plans submitted in the
.cocnpetition fer the proposed new Court
Hou se, respectfully reports as follows:
have, in company with yosr Committee,
examined all the ninetee sets OF plans
submitted. the greater number of which
were soon laid aside as ceEspieuously mad
-eQuafe to the demands of the county.
AS Yeur printed instructions did not give
the area in superficial feet required in the
various departments, many competing
architects provided very small rooms and
inadequate accommodations for such i'm
portant departments as thst of County
Clerk, Recorder, Assessor. Tax Collector
Asre, sor, etc, while some of the rejected
plans we're very creditable in mauv RI
specb they were fatally weak in other
The plans rel ,cted on aseount of Insult
cient Accommodations for the principai
county offices are numbered 3, 4. D, $, .. 10.
IL, 13, Is and is.
No is one of the most complete set of
plans and one Of the most elaborate archi-
tectural designs. treated in mixed X 1man-
esque and English gothic 1t Is also one OF
the largest and most expensive of all the
plans submitted. and would without doubt,
cost about ffvY per cent more than the sum
appropriated for the purpose. and for that
reason has been laid aside.
The floor plans of No. . are very good,
with reasonable accommodations for the
principal departments. The exterior is
very crude In design, slight walls, awk
ward dome and all badly executed.
No, lis very good glan, well treated in
modern Ramanesque style, and would, If
built, make very monumental building
Its size and cost, however, preclude the pos
sibility of seriously considering 1t, as it
would cost, II erected as designed aud de-
seribed, sbout s6o0,e00.
No. a. like No. 7, is a very large plan and
also made In modern Romnnesque style.
1t is one of the best executed, and is doubt
less the work OF an accomplished archi
tect Like No. Z, it covers about 5000
square feet of ground and would cost not
less thar half million dollars to construct
as designed.
No. Is, although laid aside as not having
adequate ascomm odations for the Clerk,
Recorder, etc., yet deserves special men
tfon for its fine monumental design and the
neat execution OF all its drawing. 1t is the
most correct in ik treatment OF the style Sc
lectsd OF all the Romanesque designs.
No. II is a very good plan, with spacious
accommodations for most Of the offices, but
fnconveniently arranged; design medium,
but net desirable.
This leaves US with Nos, 6, II aud ls asthe
most WORTHY of serious consideration.
No. 6 presents fine and spacious plan,
with a strong monumental design, well
treated in French Renaissance style. The
offices are all well arranged and have good
light and ventilation. In this plan, the
Criminal Court is placed in the basement,
near the Jail. This is to be strongly recon-
mended, as it is very desirable to prevent
the frequenters of the Criminal Courts In
large cities from mingling with others, who
may have more honorable calls at the var
iOus other courts. The esti ate shows that
this design, II executed in the liberal man
overrun the sum named by your honorable
Board by $4,000. Should it seem desirable
20 accept the plan. the author could doubt
less reduce its cost to the desired limit
without narrowing its fine proportions oI
detracting much from its beauty. The au-
tbors OF the design have studied their sub
iect well and manifested thorough kn0wl
edge OF their business In general, and the
wants OF the courthouse particularly. AN
s,xaminas ion of a detailed estimate will
show that the large amount of stone, iron,
copper and plHmbing work makes the cost
of the building greater per square foot than
either of the other plans estimated.
No. u has good floor plans. with spacious
rooms for the principal Offices aud good
light for the court-rooms. The Offices in the
basement OF the first story are obstructed by
columns and large piers in awkward posi-
lions, The basement corridors would be
very dark, az they receive no direct light;
no elevator is provided. and other minor
defects appear in the plan. The exterior OF
the plan Is designed in the old familiar
court house. classic syle. but evidently by
An Inexperienced designer. There are in
c0ugruities In the arches employed, which
would become very appanent II executed.
The architect proposes TO cover his tower
with galvanized sheet-iron, ifinsy mate
ri al In any place, against the use of which
on such q public building, the writer feels
beund to protest, for besides being hollow
sham ia its best day, 1t will, before our gen
A.v sfs. fsxxr. Il.